Promising start for Timbermen
Joe Sullivan promised the Peterborough Timbermen would be better this year than in their inaugural season.
Early indications are the head coach/GM is delivering on that promise as they’ve won two of their first three games after going 3-11 in year one of the Arena Lacrosse League.
They played their lone two games at the Memorial Centre this season on the weekend falling 12-9 to defending champion Oshawa Outlaws Saturday before 600 fans. They rebounded Sunday to beat the expansion Whitby Steelhawks 17-10 before 300 spectators.
Newcomers like Joel Matthews, Chris Atwood, Mark Vradenburg and Fred Hartley have given the offence a boost.
“We added more up front and as you can see we’re putting up the numbers,” said Timbermen captain Riley Campbell. “Our goaltenders are playing great, too, and keeping us in each game.”
The early results have built confidence.
“We thought we had a great team (last year) going in and we just couldn’t find ways to win,” said Campbell. “To start off 2-1 is not bad especially with not everyone knowing each other. We had new guys in the lineup today. We know we can put up the numbers now and know we can win. We’re going to expect that every game.”
Sullivan said he’s happy with the early results.
“At least now we’re talking about things we can clean up to be even better where last year we were just pushing to compete,” he said. “The compete-level is there and the talent is there and experience. Now we have to clean up the little things which is a far cry from last year.”
On Saturday, the Timbermen led 5-1 early but Oshawa fought back to tie it 5-5 by half-time. Oshawa wrestled the lead away for good with three straight goals late in the third-quarter to lead 11-8. Oshawa improved to 2-0.
On Sunday, Peterborough again led 5-1 early and there was a dejavu moment when Whitby scored two quick ones to make it 5-3. Sullivan called a timeout and the Timbermen responded by bumping the lead to 12-5 at half-time.
“I knew the guys were feeling it if we were thinking it on the bench,” Sullivan said. “I don’t like using a timeout unless we’re trying to draw something up but I think that was the time to let them know if we clean things up and play smarter we can get through it.”
Against Oshawa, Dan Michel scored twice for the Timbermen with singles to Hartley, Colton Armstrong, Matthews, Justin Kulla, Greg Reilly, Nick Karam and Blake Kenny. Vradenburg had three assists, Hartley and Matthews two with singles to Matt McLeod, Cam Crowe, Kaleb Bingley, Kulla and Armstrong.
Brandon Benn led Oshawa with three goals and an assist, Mike Triolo had two goals and four assists, John St. John two goals and three assists, Mike Mawdsley two goals, Dylan Goddard a goal and three assists and Josh Gilray and T.J. Sanders a goal and two assists. Also adding assists were Nick Andreoli, Gage Board, Cam Mancini, Graham Bergsma and Connor Laird.
Matthews led the way against Whitby firing five goals while Atwood had a hat trick. Vradenburg scored two goals and four assists, Kulla and Karam two goals each, Armstrong, Brett Coons and Hartley a goal and assist each. Goalie Brett Perras had three assists, McLeod and Michel two with singles to Doug Utting and Kenny.
Peterborough native Cam Milligan, the first overall pick in this season’s ALL draft, and Austin Murphy led Whitby with three goals and an assist. Cody McMahon and Blaze Riorden had a goal and two assists, Andy Campbell and Cody Hamley a goal and assist each. Adding assists were Gerret Lewis, Chris Boushy and goalie Luc Coote.